Leading countries in the Islamic finance space within the Asean region, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, should collaborate in the banking and takaful sectors, as bright prospects are seen for both Islamic finance and financial technology (fintech) in the region, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) deputy governor Adnan Zaylani.

Malaysia, Indonesia should forge alliance to enhance Islamic finance, fintech growth in Asean — BNM

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) will enhance cross-border e-commerce among small and medium enterprises by partnering Amazon in a programme that allows products to be sold internationally via Amazon’s e-stores.

Matrade, Amazon collaborate to enhance cross-border e-commerce among SMEs

SINGAPORE (April 15): Asia Pacific saw the largest y-o-y decline in financial technology (fintech) funding value compared to other regions in 1Q2024, falling 46% to US$1.85 billion (S$2.51 billion), according to data by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Asia Pacific saw largest y-o-y decline in fintech funding in 1Q2024 — S&P Global

BENGALURU (April 9): India's Paytm said on Tuesday that Surinder Chawla had resigned as the chief executive officer and managing director of its banking unit Paytm Payments Bank "on account of personal reasons".

The company said the resignation would be effective from June 26 but did no...

India's Paytm banking unit CEO Surinder Chawla resigns

SINGAPORE (April 9): The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and global payments company Mastercard have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation in cyber security.

MAS to strengthen financial services’ cyber resilience with Mastercard MOU

TNG Digital Sdn Bhd will start imposing a 1% overseas transaction conversion fee for its cross-border QR payment feature in Touch 'n Go (TNG) eWallet, starting from April 25, which had been free of charge previously.

Touch 'n Go eWallet to charge 1% conversion fee for overseas transactions from April 25

KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): Grab-led digital bank GX Bank Bhd (GXBank) aims to provide financial facilities to the underserved market, expand the retail segment and address the needs of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), said its chief executive officer Lai Pei-Si.

Grab-led digital bank GXBank to tap into underserved market, MSMEs

MBSB Bank Bhd is discontinuing its e-wallet platform, effective from May 31.

In a statement on Monday, the bank said the strategic decision is aligned with the bank’s ongoing efforts to optimise and streamline its digital offerings.

MBSB Bank discontinues e-wallet platform

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has launched Cosmic, a centralised digital platform for the sharing of customer information among financial institutions to tackle money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing.

Singapore's MAS launches information-sharing platform to combat financial crime with six commercial banks

KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): Malaysia’s first shariah-compliant and conventional peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform microLEAP recorded a total financing disbursement of RM62.18 million last year, more than double from RM30.91 million in 2022.

microLEAP records over 100% rise in total financing disbursement in 2023

Alibaba Group said on Tuesday it was offering to buy the 36% of Cainiao it does not already own for up to US$3.75 billion (RM17.7 billion), abandoning plans for an initial public offering (IPO) of the logistics business in Hong Kong.

Alibaba to buy Cainiao stake for up to US$3.75b as it drops IPO plan

Thailand's government expects to launch a signature handout scheme worth 500 billion baht (RM65.2 billion) by the fourth quarter of this year, a deputy finance minister said on Monday, delaying it beyond a former target date of May.

Thailand delays US$14b handout scheme to fourth quarter

JAKARTA (March 22): Southeast Asian online lending platform Akulaku, which is backed by China's Alibaba, secured up to US$100 million of debt financing from the Singapore branch of London-based HSBC, Akulaku's CEO said, as it aims to make the company more profitable.

Alibaba-backed fintech Akulaku secures HSBC financing, aims for double-digit growth

SINGAPORE (March 22): Maybank has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with fintech firm Doxa Holdings International (Doxa) to jointly provide and enhance supply chain financing (SCF) solutions for players in the building and construction sector, extending to other industries in the future.

Maybank, Doxa ink MOU for supply chain financing solutions in building & construction sector

The government will continue to monitor the impact on inflation in the country following the announcement of a more than 13% increase in civil servants' salaries this December.

Anwar: Putrajaya will keep eye on inflation rate following civil service pay hike

US private payrolls increased more than expected in April, suggesting that the labor market maintained its momentum early in the second quarter.

US private payrolls beat expectations in April 

Yum Brands reported a fall in quarterly global same-store sales on Wednesday, hurt by choppy demand for its KFC and Pizza Hut brands from inflation-weary consumers in the United States as well as in overseas markets.

KFC parent Yum reports surprise drop in global same-store sales on weak demand

Shell has exited China's power markets as part of CEO Wael Sawan's drive to focus on more profitable operations including its natural gas and oil businesses.

Shell exits China power market businesses

The retail price of RON97 petrol remains unchanged at RM3.47 per litre, with RON95 also unchanged at RM2.05 per litre, from May 2 to May 8, according to the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.

Fuel prices unchanged till May 8

The dollar edged towards its highest level this year against a basket of peers and US share futures dipped on Wednesday ahead of a Federal Reserve policy decision, though trading was thin with many European and Asian markets closed.

Dollar near five-month highs ahead of Fed policy decision

Bitcoin slid by almost 6% on Wednesday, having posted its worst monthly performance in April since late 2022, as investors pulled money out of cryptocurrencies ahead of an interest rate decision by the Federal Reserve later.

Crypto washout sends bitcoin below US$58,000 into bear market

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised that any party associating him and the government with a purported casino project in Forest City must face legal action.

Those who spread lies on Forest City casino project ought to be jailed, says PM

Details regarding the salary increase for civil servants will be announced during the tabling of Budget 2025 in October this year.

Details of civil servants’ wage hike to be announced in Budget 2025, says Fahmi 

China's Huawei Technologies has moved the high-profile chief of its consumer business, Yu Chengdong, to a new role as chair of the unit, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

Huawei's high-profile consumer CEO Richard Yu shifts role

Yum Brands reported a fall in quarterly global same-store sales on Wednesday, hurt by choppy demand for its KFC and Pizza Hut brands from inflation-weary consumers in the United States as well as in overseas markets.

Shell has exited China's power markets as part of CEO Wael Sawan's drive to focus on more profitable operations including its natural gas and oil businesses.

The government will continue to monitor the impact on inflation in the country following the announcement of a more than 13% increase in civil servants' salaries this December.

US private payrolls increased more than expected in April, suggesting that the labor market maintained its momentum early in the second quarter.

Fintech

‌
‌

Fintech

‌‌

‌
‌